New Brunswick, New Jersey

New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey. The first European settlement at the site was made in 1681, and it was known as Prigmore's Swamp until 1697 and Inian's Ferry from 1691 to 1714. In 1714, it was renamed after the German state of Brunswick, and it became an important hub for colonial travelers and traders due to its location between New York City and Philadelphia. It was incorporated as a town in 1736 and as a city in 1784, and Rutgers University was founded in 1766. The city became known for its ethnic diversity; free African-Americans settled in Halfpenny Town during the 1810s, Hungarians became a major immigrant group at the turn of the 20th century (making up a third of the population during the 1930s), and Hispanic immigration since the 1960s led to 50% of the population being Hispanic by the 21st century. In 2016, New Brunswick had a population of 56,910 people.